Chapter 710 – The Flying Pan from the Sky (Part 2)
If her acting skills were any worse, it would have turned into a clumsy performance.
But would Jiang Pengji’s acting skills ever be bad?
Thus, she successfully portrayed herself as a noble gentleman with great aspirations, who temporarily strayed onto the wrong path and, upon realizing her mistakes, reflected and repented.
Even Yang Si, who was used to his leader’s split personalities, found himself being dragged into the confusion this time.
This was practically the pinnacle of dramatic acting!
The dried fish audience in the live stream eagerly lined up to give Jiang Pengji likes, flooding the chat with “666s.”
【Silent Huang Shaotian】: I feel like I’ve encountered a walking drama queen. With the broadcaster’s acting, if she doesn’t win an Oscar, the judges must be blind!
【Midnight Epileptic】: The tricks run deep—I’m suddenly super sympathetic toward Xu Pei, who encountered peak theatrics and almost got fooled to paralysis.
【Phoenix Dance】: Xu Pei and the broadcaster, a duel of two eternal drama queens. It suddenly hit me—if they were to compete for supremacy, it would definitely be a realm where lords rise. Each faction’s leader would surely be a dramatic figure. If we gathered all these dramatists together to put on a show, whoever’s tricks are the deepest would survive to the end… Hahaha, I think our broadcaster could definitely steal the show!
With the power of the dried fish buff, Jiang Pengji successfully ensnared Xu Pei.
Unaware of the impending danger, Xu Pei continued to joke with Jiang Pengji.
“Brother, you were just encouraging me, how come you’re now lamenting about your situation? Who isn’t flawed among mortals? Besides, your actions aren’t at fault at all. Things like blue bricks, which benefit the common people, shouldn’t belong to just one or two families. Hoarding such a valuable item would indeed be narrow-minded. If you’re looking to sell the method of producing blue bricks, it must have some value. I have an idea; how about lowering the price and selling to several parties? It would promote it further and earn a bit on the side to help the family finances…”
She spoke the first few sentences with a hint of bashfulness, feeling guilty about her thoughts, but the last line sounded a bit cheeky.
Xu Pei chuckled first, then seriously considered her words.
Because of Jiang Pengji’s previous performance, he didn’t think she was acting; rather, he felt she was noble and compassionate.
If it were anyone else, they would definitely think of every possible way to squeeze out all the benefits, but Liu Xi took the opposite approach.
Who has ever seen a shrewd merchant willingly give away gold?
Xu Pei mused that in an era of peace, having officials like Liu Xi would indeed be a blessing for the common people.
After all, people like Liu Xi were so rare in this world.
He had been looking for an opportunity to win her favor and draw closer to her.
Now that a ready-made opportunity lay before him, he couldn’t let it slip away.
He said, “If you don’t mind me being a bother, can I borrow that painting for a while?”
Jiang Pengji asked, puzzled, “What do you need the painting for, Xu brother?”
“Relying on my ancestors’ blessings, I’ve managed to familiarize myself with the great heroes who participated in the alliance meeting. Over this time, I’ve gained a bit of reputation. I lack many things, but I’ve managed to build some connections,” Xu Pei replied with a hint of pride. “From my perspective, your shy and reserved personality probably doesn’t suit such dealings. If you trust me, I will handle this matter properly for you.”
Jiang Pengji was taken aback for a moment before realizing what Xu Pei meant.
“T-This feels a bit awkward,” she said, overjoyed, almost biting her tongue as she stumbled over her words. “If Xu brother is so willing to exert such effort, how can I take your money? How about this—I’ll willingly share the technology for blue brick production for free…”
Before she finished her sentence, Xu Pei interrupted.
“Between brothers, we must settle accounts clearly. Though we are not blood relatives, we share a fondness at first sight, making us better than brothers. How can I take advantage of you?”
Money was definitely going to be exchanged, and a good amount at that.
However, whether that money was for purchasing the blue brick production method or for last night’s emotional distress fee was open to interpretation.
After breakfast, Jiang Pengji left with Yang Si, her personal guards, and a “contract” sealed with Xu Pei’s personal official seal, with a spring in her step.
Yang Si: “…”
Having observed the entire process, he felt like he had become nothing more than a backdrop, even less useful than a dried fish.
“I’m exhausted… Speaking so flowery, it feels like my tongue is tied in knots.”
Jiang Pengji tightened her rabbit fur cloak against the cold wind seeping in, rubbing her stiff cheeks.
Putting on an act was truly tiring.
Yang Si frowned and asked, “Leader, do you really think Xu Pei and the others will fall for it?”
Jiang Pengji pondered for a moment. “It’s hard to say in the future, but at least for now, they have been duped. However, nothing in this world is foolproof; if they’re discovered, so be it. What is there to fear? Even if they find something, my crime would only be taking advantage of a situation—at worst, I’d add the ‘using Xu Pei’ charge. Neither of those charges are severe. When it comes down to it, they don’t suffer any real loss. But I almost got assassinated in their camp, and that’s an indisputable fact. For them, it’s much better for me to be alive than dead. If I die, they are finished too. So I tricked them, and even if they are resentful, they still have to swallow their pride. Who would dare to tear their face?”
“That makes sense,” Yang Si recalled the events of the previous night and asked, “Was that assassin really sent by Xu Fei?”
If Xu Fei was indeed behind it, then the rift between the Xu brothers was likely deeper than outsiders imagined.
Jiang Pengji glanced at Yang Si and countered, “Do you think Xu Fei did it?”
Yang Si shook his head. “I don’t think so. Xu Fei lacks motivation.”
Indeed, Xu Fei was the primary suspect, but from Yang Si’s perspective, Xu Fei had no incentive to act.
Why do I say this?
The Xu brothers became prominent figures in the alliance largely because their combined forces numbered over a hundred thousand.
If their brotherly bond were to fracture, splitting off, one would only have fifty thousand, diminishing their threat significantly.
The interests of the Xu brothers were tightly intertwined; while there were conflicts, there was also mutual assistance.
One rises, they all rise; one falls, they all fall.
Would Xu Fei really want to assassinate Liu Xi and thus trap Xu Pei?
That would clearly be a completely foolish move—killing a thousand while losing eight hundred.
However, if it weren’t Xu Fei, Yang Si couldn’t think of any other suspects, unless—
Yang Si shifted his gaze to his leader; could it be that this assassination was all part of Jiang Pengji’s self-directed production?
No!
Impossible!
As soon as that thought crossed his mind, he swiftly extinguished it—this theory had far more holes than Xu Fei’s scenario.
Jiang Pengji, riding on Xiao Bai, slowly said, “Stop guessing; it’s neither Xu Fei nor your leader…”
